Miami weighs preserving iconic Bacardi buildings

The two Bacardi Headquarters buildings in Miami. Since Bacardi announced it's moving its corporate headquarters to Coral Gables, Fla., the fate of the buildings has been unclear. (Lee/AP)

MIAMI — The two headquarters buildings of Bacardi USA are among Miami's most iconic landmarks: one an eight-story tower graced by blue and white Spanish tiles, the other a perfect square covered in an abstract modern glass mural.

On Tuesday, city leaders had been poised to discuss and vote on a proposal to designate them as historic structures that must be preserved, even though they are years short of the 50-year threshold typically required for designation.

But the meeting was postponed until May at the request of Bacardi, who sent its lawyer to the meeting to request more time so the rum-maker could study the issue.

Supporters of preservation say the buildings are perfect examples of mid-century architecture with Latin flare that underscore Miami's identity.

"Miami's brand is it's identity as a tropical city," said Allan Shulman, professor of architecture at the University of Miami. "The Bacardi buildings are exactly the sort that resonate with our consciousness of what Miami is about."

The city action comes as the rum and spirits company, owned by Bermuda-based Bacardi Limited, prepares to move to a new headquarters in suburban Coral Gables.

Bacardi hasn't said what it plans to do with the buildings, located in Miami's urban core, but says it cares about them.

"We love our buildings and have only the best of intentions for our buildings," Bacardi USA spokeswoman Patricia M. Neal said. The company had no comment regarding the preservation status, other than saying it was a "quick move."

Miami officials, local architects and preservationists want to make sure the structures are protected, which is why the city's Historic Preservation Board has called a meeting.

If the board eventually votes for historic designation, it would have to vote again at a later meeting to make it official.

"These buildings are terribly important to Miami's architectural legacy," said Ivan Rodriguez, an architect with RJ Heisenbottle in Coral Gables.

They're also a symbol of the Cuban influence in Miami. The Bacardi family fled Cuba following Fidel Castro's revolution and, like tens of thousands of others from the island, settled in Miami.

Rodriguez said the Bacardis had long been patrons of art and architecture — their former headquarters in Havana is a famous Art Deco structure — and brought that sensibility to Miami.

The blue-and-white tower of the USA headquarters was built in 1963 by Cuban-born architect Enrique Gutierrez on U.S. 1 — Biscayne Boulevard — which was then the city's main artery before Interstate 95.

The second building, which is suspended 47 feet off the ground and supported by a fire-engine red central core, was erected in 1973 by Coral Gables architect Ignacio Carrera-Justiz.

Experts say the buildings represent a Latin twist on mid-century architecture. While the older Art Deco style has been successfully preserved on Miami Beach, architecture enthusiasts in South Florida have only recently started trying to designate the unique, mid-century buildings as historic.

There's even a moniker for those '50s and '60s structures: MiMo, short for Miami Modern. The Fontainebleau Hotel is one of the most well-known of the MiMo structures, along with the Bacardi buildings.

"Even though Miami is well-known for its colorful modernist architecture, Miami doesn't have a lot of high-style modernist architecture," said Randall Robinson, the author of "MiMo: Miami Modern Revealed." ''The Bacardi buildings are Miami's version of the Lever House in New York City."

If the city votes to preserve the buildings, they will be eligible for grants, tax breaks and other perks — but the property owners cannot demolish them or alter the structures' outward appearance.